Bowling practice device

ABSTRACT

A bowling practice device which allows individuals a means by which to practice those techniques required to improve their bowling abilities is disclosed. The bowling practice device comprises an inflatable frame that houses a separate floor piece, panel pieces and a rear wall which once inserted and placed interiorly within the inflatable frame add the appropriate stiffness and structure for placement of a targeting cushion. In use, the bowling practice device may be set up for the beginning bowler, league bowler, or the advance bowler. By placing the targeting cushion in a proper orientation within the inflatable bowling practice device frame, it allows more targeting for the beginning bowler, who has to attain proficiency in their release and targeting. The targeting cushion may also have imprinted targeting markers for allowing a league to practice ball placement at a particular board, as is typically displayed on a bowling lane.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is related to sporting equipment in general and in particular to a device for practicing bowling.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many persons interested in learning a sport or in improving their proficiency in a sport with which they are familiar employ practice devices. The sport of bowling has been played for thousands of years. Bowling today generally involves rolling a bowling ball down a bowling lane towards ten bowling pins arranged at the end of the lane. With better technique and warm-up, a bowler may be able to knock down more or even all of the pins. Therefore, a person who desires to learn the game or practice and improve certain skills in bowling, such as, for example, the swing, the release and the follow-through, have had to attend a conventional bowling alley.

When attending a conventional bowling alley, it is frequently necessary to pay for each lane of bowling and, as is the case in many sports, the cost of the lanes is increasing and in many cities has increased to a level where it is becoming impractical, or at least highly burdensome to pay the cost in order to practice certain skills. Moreover, with the ever-increasing popularity of the sport of bowling, which has given rise to an ever-increasing number of leagues which use the available bowling alleys, it is becoming more and more difficult to obtain the use of a bowling alley at a convenient time. The present invention solves these and other problems in a novel and unique fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A bowling practice device which allows individuals a means by which to practice those techniques required to improve their bowling abilities is disclosed. The bowling practice device comprises an inflatable frame that houses a separate floor piece, panel pieces and a rear wall which once inserted and placed interiorly within the inflatable frame add the appropriate stiffness and structure for placement of a targeting cushion wherein a user may throw a bowling bowl into for practicing.

In use, the bowling practice device may be set up for the beginning bowler, league bowler, or the advance bowler. By placing the targeting cushion in a proper orientation within the inflatable bowling practice device frame, it allows more targeting for the beginning bowler, who has to attain proficiency in their release and targeting. The targeting cushion may also have imprinted targeting markers for allowing a league to practice ball placement at a particular board, as is typically displayed on a bowling lane.

In view of the foregoing, a principal object of the present invention is a bowling practice device suitable for home use.

Another object of the present invention is a bowling practice device which may be used on a conventional home floor, rug or carpet.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bowling practice device according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the bowling practice device shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a perspective view of the bowling practice device 10 in accordance with the present invention. The bowling practice device 10 utilizes an inflatable frame member 18 defined by a rear wall 30, a bottom portion 23 wherein the rear wall 30 and bottom portion 23 are seamlessly connected by opposite longitudinal sidewalls 26 thereby creating when fully inflated a bowling lane area in which a targeting cushion 22 may be placed for use in bowling practice, as will be more fully described below. Turning once again to FIG. 1 and summarizing, the bowling practice device 10 comprises an inflatable frame member 18 defined by longitudinal sidewalls 26, a bottom portion 23 and rear wall 30. The inflatable frame 18 is inflated using a blow up nozzle 22 located along the top of rear wall 30 and similarly may be deflated using the same valve 22 for ease of storage during non-use and transport. It should be understood that blow up nozzle 22 may be located exteriorly anywhere along the sidewalls 26 or rear wall 30 of frame member 18.

Referring now to FIG. 2, there is shown an exploded view of the bowling practice device 10 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, to add structure and stiffness to the bowling practice device 10, a rear panel 14 is placed against rear wall 30 inside the inflated frame 18. Similarly, left 20 and right 16 panels, respectively are placed inside and against the interior of longitudinal sidewalls 26. A generally rectangular floor piece 24 is laid down and on top of bottom portion 23 of inflatable member 18. The left and right panels 20 and 16 are also laid into the interior of inflatable frame 18 and are positioned such that they touch against the interior floor piece 24, against sidewalls 26 and rear panel 14. As shown in FIG. 1, the interior floor piece 24 in association with panels 16 and 20 rear panel 14 are fabricated from a semi-rigid memory form material and define a semi-rigid bowling practice device 10 within the inflatable frame 18 which is generally trough shaped and sized to snugly fit the targeting cushion 12 wherein the targeting cushion 12 is allowed to slide along the bottom and sides of the bowling practice device 10 when hit with a practice bowling ball (not shown) as will be more fully described below.

Turning once again to FIG. 1, the interior sidewalls formed by panels 20 and 16 and floor piece 24 and rear panel 14 of the bowling practice device 10, main purpose is to catch and retain the targeting cushion 12 when pushed backwards after being hit with a practice bowling ball (not shown). It should be understood that the various components that make up the bowling practice device 10, namely, panels 20 and 16, floor piece 24, targeting cushion 12 and rear wall 14 may be made of fabric or canvas and are stuffed with moisture absorbent material such as memory foam as an example. By way of example, but not of limitation the targeting cushion 12 in one preferred embodiment may be 20 inches in length, 18 inches in width and 12 inches in height. Additionally, by way of example, but not of limitation the both side panels 20 and 16 in one preferred embodiment may be 30 inches in length, 9 inches in width and approximately 1 inch in thickness. Lastly, by way of example, but not of limitation rear panel 14 in one preferred embodiment may be 20 inches in length, 9 inches in width and approximately 1 inch in thickness and the floor piece 24 is 30 inches in length, 18 inches in width and approximately 1 inch in thickness.

In use, the bowling practice device 10 may be set up for the beginning bowler, League bowler, or the advance bowler. By placing the Targeting Cushion 12 at a proper location within the bowling practice device 10, it allows more targeting for the beginning bowler, who has to attain proficiency in their release and targeting. The targeting cushion 12 may also have imprinted targeting markers (not shown) for allowing a league bowler (not shown) to practice ball placement at a particular board, as is typically displayed on a bowling lane.

The targeting cushion 12 and bowling practice device 10 are sized to allow for a 10″×10″ area for the advanced Bowler to place an 8½″ Bowling Ball. As described above, the targeting markers (not shown), may be utilized to indicate different board targeting for the different bowling lane patterns. The bowling practice device 10 may be utilized by either left or right handed bowlers, by standing on the left or right of the bowling practice device 10 and adjusting the targeting cushion 12 to the appropriate board as it would be on a bowling lane.

There are numerous ways the bowling practice device 10 may be fabricated, As an example and described above, the bowling practice frame 186 may be made to from a material such that it is inflatable. Alternatively, the bowling practice frame 18 may be made from wood or other hard material with walls made of cushions to absorb the impact of a bowling ball during use. An additional pad may be placed behind the targeting cushion 12 thereby causing the bowling ball to roll back to the bowler. The targeting cushion 12 could hang down from a rod or hooks. Lastly, the floor piece 24 of the bowling practice device 10 may be fabricated to appear like wood thereby resembling a bowling alley.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, but to include as many substitutions as may be incorporated in the embodiment described without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention incorporated therein. Accordingly, it is intended that the scope of the invention not be limited to the embodiments described but be determined by reference to the claims hereinafter provided and their equivalents. 

1. (canceled)
 2. (canceled)
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. (canceled)
 6. (canceled)
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled)
 10. (canceled)
 11. A bowling practice device for a bowler using their bowling ball, comprising: an inflatable frame member having longitudinal sidewalls, a bottom portion and a rear wall wherein said rear wall and said bottom portion are seamlessly connected by opposite longitudinal sidewalls thereby creating a bowling lane area in which a targeting cushion is placed for use in bowling practice wherein the bowler throws their bowling bowl into said inflatable frame member wherein hitting said targeting cushion increases the bowlers proficiency in releasing and throwing their bowling bowl for later use when they bowl.
 12. The bowling practice device according to claim 11 further including a rear panel placed against said rear wall wherein said rear panel is fabricated from a semi-rigid memory foam material adding structure and stiffness to the bowling practice device.
 13. The bowling practice device according to claim 11 further including left and right panels placed against an interior of said longitudinal sidewalls wherein said left and right panels are fabricated from a semi-rigid memory foam material adding structure and stiffness to the bowling practice device.
 14. The bowling practice device according to claim 11 further including an interior floor piece placed in association with said left, right and rear panels said interior floor piece fabricated from a semi-rigid memory foam material adding structure and stiffness to the bowling practice device.
 15. A bowling practice device for a bowler using their bowling ball, comprising: an inflatable frame member having longitudinal sidewalls, a bottom portion and a rear wall wherein said rear wall and said bottom portion are seamlessly connected by opposite longitudinal sidewalls wherein said inflatable frame is generally trough shaped and sized to snugly fit a targeting cushion wherein said targeting cushion is allowed to slide along said bottom and sidewalls when hit with a bowling ball for use in bowling practice wherein the bowler throws their bowling bowl into said inflatable frame member wherein hitting said targeting cushion increases the bowlers proficiency in releasing and throwing their bowling bowl for later use when they bowl.
 16. The bowling practice device according to claim 15 further including a rear panel placed against said rear wall wherein said rear panel is fabricated from a semi-rigid memory foam material adding structure and stiffness to the bowling practice device.
 17. The bowling practice device according to claim 15 further including left and right panels placed against an interior of said longitudinal sidewalls wherein said left and right panels are fabricated from a semi-rigid memory foam material adding structure and stiffness to the bowling practice device.
 18. The bowling practice device according to claim 15 further including an interior floor piece placed in association with said left, right and rear panels said interior floor piece fabricated from a semi-rigid memory foam material adding structure and stiffness to the bowling practice device. 